But really, handwriting has become such a big part of my life over the last couple of years. I first starting calligraphy in 8th grade when I took an after school class with some friends of mine, and I really haven’t stopped doodling since. My mom is an amazing calligrapher and has done beautiful traditional calligraphy over the years. Her regular handwriting is also beautiful and I always admired it and would spend hours practicing making my “V” or my “A” just like hers. Being left-handed, I had to come from behind a little and practice harder, but it finally paid off and I’m proud to say I’ve found my signature style.

Begin Learning Lettering

If you are looking to begin lettering, I have gathered some of my favorite resources for you to start learning:

As a special for National Handwriting day, I’m offering my practice sheet as a free printable. Just click the link above and begin practicing your own style. Watch this space for additional versions with traceable letters and words.

Favorite Tools

Of course you need the basics: pencils, pens and paper. I love to recommend Crayola Supertips to beginners as they are ridculously affordable and come in so many colors and choices. Basically any regular marker can be used to letter. Here are some other favorites:

Just keep at it!

However you decide to start, just keep at it. Practice a little more every day and you will be amazed by your progress in just a few months. One thing I love to do is to join an instagram challenge to help keep me motivated. Try a little harder to be a little better day after day.

When I do my warm ups in my lettering practice, I find myself often going back to the same phrases over and over. Some of my go to’s are my daughter’s name, “you and me”, “Love is an Adventure”, and “Families are Forever.” Often its the lyrics to the music I’m listening to or a phrase from the show that I am watching. I find myself sometimes needing new phrases to go to when trying playing around with my lettering and compiled a list of my favorite pangrams, or phrases that use every letter of the alphabet. Some good ones are:

the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

the five boxing wizards jump quickly

how quickly daft jumping zebras vex

quick zephyrs blow, vexing daft jim

my girl wove six dozen plaid jackets before she quit

jack quietly moved up front and seized the big ball of wax

the girl loved a joyful boy who quickly fixed her zany problems

I hope that those help you in your lettering practice. I find especially when I’ve been working on a specific phrase over and over that it really helps to have some nonsense to break up the space with. I usually am able to come up with different and more unique letters after I’ve stepped away.

I simply love the changing seasons! Even though it is still pretty warm here in Southern California, I’m looking forward to bundling up and enjoying the holidays. To celebrate, we’re offering this free printable which will bring the fall spirit into your home or office. To download, simply click the link below. I hope you enjoy! Feel free to tag #designwrightdoodles on social media to share your new fall art!

* This work is copyrighted for Brianne Cartwright at Designwrightnow.com. This download is for personal use only and while you are welcome to use it as many times as you like for yourself or for gifts, you may not share the file via email or sell the prints for profit. The files and artwork may not be altered in any way.

To celebrate the opening of our Etsy store and launch of the new and improved designwrightnow.com, we’re giving away this fun October printable this week! All you have to do is sign up for our newsletter and we’ll send you the link and instructions for how to print out this gem. Growing up, I loved Anne Shirley and devoured her story in books and movies. I loved everything about her dramatic personality, especially her red hair. I’m so glad I live in a world where there are characters like Anne Shirley.

Sign up for our newsletter today to have access to this print. Its the perfect addition to your fall decor. Also when you sign up, you’ll automatically receive any other freebies, tips and tutorials we do, along with any information about sales and the latest and greatest about DesignWright. Sign up today!

I whipped up this handout for a lesson I taught at church today. We were talking a lot about the challenges these teenage girls are facing and ways that they can gain strength through the Lord. They can put this up in their lockers, or tuck it in a textbook to remind them to have the courage to remember who they are and make good choices.